Members of the Arts Program at GFWC Service Guild of Covington gathered at Covington City Hall to have Mayor Ronnie Johnston sign a Proclamation partnering the National Council for Art Education and the National Council for the Arts with Covington and Newton County schools, encouraging public support of quality student art programs.

Kelsey Upton was just 15 years old when she received a terrifying text from a registered sex offender in another state. The middle-aged man had seen a pornographic image of another woman that had been posted online along with Kelsey's name, phone number and address in Oxford.

The Covington City Council will vote on amending provisions of the electric system and water system ordinances during Monday's council meeting, possibly reducing city revenue by approximately $700,000.

A long time Covington citizen, Sarah Frances Hardeman, born to George Washington Thompson and Lillie Davis- Thompson in 1918, is being recognized and honored for her legendary acts and community service in Covington.

Brian Keith Terrell, the man convicted of killing 70-year-old John Watson in his Covington home in 1992 is scheduled to be executed March 10 at 7 p.m., Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens announced Friday.

For more than 54 years, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Thomas T. Irvin has dedicated his life to public service, but Wednesday afternoon, the tables were turned when Irvin had a cabin dedicated to him at the FHA/FCCLA Center.

According to reports from the Covington Police Department, when officers arrived they spoke with the dog's owner who reportedly told them every day his aunt walks through the fence on the right side of his home, heading around the backyard where he resides with his grandparents, but on this day, he heard his brother saying "get off" and ran outside to see what was happening.

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center's Wildlife Discovery Area in Mansfield will play host the 14th annual J.A.K.E.S. Day Festival on Saturday. This fun-filled family event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Admission is free and includes an array of activities that focus on wildlife, conservation efforts and outdoor recreational opportunities in Georgia. Children can try their hands at archery, fishing, shooting sports, go on a mini-boat ride with a WRD conservation ranger and have their faces decorated with wildlife art.

Wednesday afternoon young artists, Mainstreet Covington board members, Covington-Newton Chamber of Commerce members and friends and family of Irene Smith gathered at the chamber visitor center to honor her service to the organization's tourism division as well as the Main Street program.

Barbecue for NICU: The fourth annual Newton Medical Center Auxiliary barbecue will be held on May 16 from noon to 3 p.m. at Stalvey's Restaurant on U.S. Highway 278. Tickets are $6 for a plate of barbecue, Brunswick stew, slaw and bread. There also will be homemade desserts to choose from for a small additional cost. Patrons can either drive through to pick up their plates or dine inside. All of the food is donated by Jim and Sharon Stalvey, who allow the Auxiliary to apply 100 percent of the ticket price to the neonatal intensive care ...

Covington Fire Department officials are organizing an inaugural "Fire House 5" 5K Run and a 1-mile fun run to benefit the Covington Fireman's Memorial Scholarship, which provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors in the Newton County School system, to be held on May 22. The road race will run the same course as the popular Covington Fuzz Run.